Erick Torres celebrates one of his three goals for Houston. (Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports)
HOUSTON — The Red Bulls, who have experienced trouble scoring goals this Major League Soccer season, now face another problem.
On Saturday night, they gave them up in bunches.
Case in point: the Houston Dynamo’s 4-1 romp over New York at BBVA Compass Stadium.
Dynamo forward Erick Torres struck for a hat-trick leads as Houston recorded four goals against New York for only the third time in the previous 24 meetings.
The Red Bulls, who have tallied only five times in as many games, fell to 2-2-1 while Houston, under the direction of former Long Island Rough Rider and B.W. Gottschee youth coach Wilmer Cabrera improved to 3-1-0.
Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips opened the scoring in the 13th minute. BWP ran into space and was found by Sacha Kljestan. The goal, BWP’s second of the season and the 71st of his MLS career with the Red Bulls, came days after he was signed to a new multi-year contract.
Wright-Phillips, who was held scoreless through the first two matches, has scored a goal in two of the last three contests. Kljestan recorded the primary assist, his second this season and 69th in his MLS career. Kljestan has 36 assists as a Red Bull, tying him with Amado Guevara and Tab Ramos for second-most in franchise history.
After Wright-Phillips’ goal, it was all Houston. Dylan Remick, off an Alex assist, equalized in the 14th minutes before Torres’ controversial penalty kick gave the Dynamo a 2-1 lead it never relinquished in the 41st minute. Torres added an unassisted tally in the 56th minute before connecting off his free kick a minute into stoppage time.
Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles made a season-high six saves.
